‘Protect natural habitat of tigers, let’s not disturb forests for our benefits’: IFS officer’s plea ahead of International Tiger Day

Kale said as they undertook the safari, they wondered whether they would get to spot the tiger. “Just when I said, ‘We are in tiger territory. We can see one till we reach the exit’, the next minute a tiger was spotted and we all became excited. Gathering all the energy, everyone tried to get the best possible view. Now, it was clear that there were not one but two. Our canter was moving slowly in congruence with the movement of the tigers. As they were walking towards the road, we were sure of getting a nice view and our eyes were wide open to capture it. One tiger came into the open and was crossing the road; by that time, the second followed after a few seconds. Just imagine what might have happened now…”

The third tiger, said Kale, entered on the road from behind and it was followed by a fourth and then a fifth. “Five tigers in a row in front of our eyes !! They crossed the road and entered the forests on the other side. It was unbelievable. Our happiness knew no bounds. Eureka moment it was for us. But the sexagenarian guide was ready for another surprise. He asked us to be patient and told us that the group of tigers would come on the road out of the forest on the other side. Without wasting time, he moved the vehicle forward.”

Recalling their encounter with a tigress, Kale said, “Our vehicle was stopped at a point and we were silently looking for our host family – Lara, the tigress and her four cubs… The family of five came on the road, around 500 metres away from our vehicle. And they started walking on the road, toward our vehicle. As they were coming towards us, excitement was taken over by the slightly growing fear in the heart. That royal walk, those shining amber-coloured eyes, stern looks and their intermittent stops filled the environment with wonderful energy. It was scary, too.”

Eventually, Kale said, the tigers came at a distance of just metres from the vehicle. “I could feel the dominance of this megafauna in front of humans. What a beauty of nature – the unique black stripes on the orange fur, the seriousness of the eyes and the magnificent structure. They came, gave a warning look, and went on their way. As if they were saying ‘this is our territory’. Lara was leading her cubs while walking graciously, flicking her tail. A thought came to my mind… What must she be telling her cubs about us? At the same time, I saw the two kids in the vehicle looking at the tigers moving away.”

Calling for reshaping the narrative among kids, Kale, who cleared her Union Public Service Commission Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam last year, said, “Generally, kids are taught about the tiger as a dangerous animal which will catch and kill. I don’t know what Lara tells her cubs, but what do we want to tell our kids? Can we reshape the narrative for our kids? Tigers are wonderful animals, and forests are their home. Like tigers, many other animals, birds, and butterflies reside in forests. If you want to see them with their awesome families, we have to save the forest, we have to protect their habitat.”

Kale called to protect the tiger habitat and said, “I was brought back to the moment by the guide who was now telling us about tiger sisters… When we were listening, Lara’s family was going away from our vision, but recalling an excellent sighting fixed its impression in depth in our minds. Occasionally, the driver took the vehicle in reverse to let the tigress move undisturbed on her way. Isn’t this an analogy for us? We have come too forward by disturbing the forests for our own benefit. We should be aware of reversing the trend and maintain a balance in favour of all life on earth. We should take the right steps in the right direction and remember that forward is not always right…”